RFBAQ - Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland Inc

19/06/2026

$4,640 in Brigade Specific Donations (BSD’s) for this week.

Money is tight, so it is a huge thankyou to everyone who has donated to their local Rural Fire Brigades.
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In the 2024/25 Financial year, BSDs amounted to $200,729.19
Brigade Specific Donation – 100% of the money goes to the specified brigade and you get a tax deductible receipt.
https://www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-a-brigade
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Donation to the RFBAQ – tax deductible donation goes towards supporting brigade members, buying equipment for brigades and advocating for better support from government.
https://www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-rfbaq
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Buy an Art Union ticket, and you might win a new car or a fabulous consolation prize.
https://www.rfbaq.org/support-us
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Here is a list of grants and support supplied to Rural Fire Brigades and brigade members by the RFBAQ. Over $6 million in the last 6 years.
https://www.rfbaq.org/previous-grants
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The RFBAQ is an association that exists to service its membership, which is all Rural Fire Brigades in Queensland.
The objects for which the Association is established are: -
1. To consider and make representation in matters affecting the welfare and efficiency of Rural Fire Brigades and Brigade Members.
2. To provide financial assistance and support to Rural Fire Brigades and their Brigade Members.
Link to RFBAQ constitution - https://www.rfbaq.org/constitution

19/06/2026

New Right to Information search results

https://www.rfbaq.org/announcements/new-rti-search-results

In October 2025 the RFBAQ initiated a QFD RTI search of OBM 118 – Rural Fire Service Queensland - Fleet Asset Warranty / Fault Report forms, and its predecessor form, including attached photos and attached written appraisals, from January 2025 to date, that pertain to Bell manufactured fire appliances in service with QFD.

Results from that RTI and the history of the build process are available through this link – https://www.rfbaq.org/announcements/rtiresults

In that search we discovered that the filling in of OBM 118 forms to track problems was very hit and miss.

We believe that since the RTI request of 2025 and us publishing the results, QFD/RFSQ has been more diligent in their generation of the OBM 118 form and record keeping.

On the 29th April 2026 we again wrote requesting a RTI search of OBM 118 – Rural Fire Service Queensland - Fleet Asset Warranty / Fault Report forms, including attached photos, videos, emails and attached written appraisals, from, and including, 1st November 2025 to, and including, 30th April 2026, that pertain to Bell manufactured fire appliances in service with QFD.

The results came in yesterday afternoon (18th June 2026, 924 pages) and will take some collating as there are significantly more documents that the last RTI search (265 pages).

While we will be the information through AI; one person will also sit down with an excel spreadsheet and read and enter each document. This will take time but also generate an accurate picture of fleet problems.

11/06/2026

$3,215 in Brigade Specific Donations (BSD’s) for this week.
Money is tight, so it is a huge thankyou to everyone who has donated to their local Rural Fire Brigades.
--
In the 2024/25 Financial year, BSDs amounted to $200,729.19
Brigade Specific Donation – 100% of the money goes to the specified brigade and you get a tax deductible receipt.
https://www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-a-brigade
--
Donation to the RFBAQ – tax deductible donation goes towards supporting brigade members, buying equipment for brigades and advocating for better support from government.
https://www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-rfbaq
--
Buy an Art Union ticket, and you might win a new car or a fabulous consolation prize.
https://www.rfbaq.org/support-us
--
Here is a list of grants and support supplied to Rural Fire Brigades and brigade members by the RFBAQ. Over $6 million in the last 6 years.
https://www.rfbaq.org/previous-grants
--
The RFBAQ is an association that exists to service its membership, which is all Rural Fire Brigades in Queensland.

The objects for which the Association is established are: -
1. To consider and make representation in matters affecting the welfare and efficiency of Rural Fire Brigades and Brigade Members.
2. To provide financial assistance and support to Rural Fire Brigades and their Brigade Members.

Link to RFBAQ constitution - https://www.rfbaq.org/constitution

09/06/2026

Hardship Grant of $3,015 to a dual brigade member in RFSQ Warwick and Toowoomba Areas towards funeral costs.

The RFBAQ extends our condolences to the family, brigade and local community.
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All funding for the RFBAQ comes from the generosity of the people of Queensland.
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The RFBAQ is an association that exists to service its membership, which is all Rural Fire Brigades in Queensland.

The objects for which the Association is established are: -
-To consider and make representation in matters affecting the welfare and efficiency of Rural Fire Brigades and Brigade Members.
-To provide financial assistance and support to Rural Fire Brigades and their Brigade Members.
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Here is a list of grants and support supplied to Rural Fire Brigades and brigade members by the RFBAQ.

https://www.rfbaq.org/previous-grants

08/06/2026

Over the weekend one of our members made the 13hr round trip to Mt Isa to pick up our new lockers. Thanks to RFBAQ - Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland Inc for these and organising freight to Mt Isa. We are so grateful!

03/06/2026

$3,460 in Brigade Specific Donations (BSD’s) for this week.

Money is tight, so it is a huge thankyou to everyone who has donated to their local Rural Fire Brigades.

--
In the 2024/25 Financial year, BSDs amounted to $200,729.19
Brigade Specific Donation – 100% of the money goes to the specified brigade and you get a tax deductible receipt.
https://www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-a-brigade
--
Donation to the RFBAQ – tax deductible donation goes towards supporting brigade members, buying equipment for brigades and advocating for better support from government.
https://www.rfbaq.org/donate-to-rfbaq
--
Buy an Art Union ticket, and you might win a new car or a fabulous consolation prize.
https://www.rfbaq.org/support-us
--
Here is a list of grants and support supplied to Rural Fire Brigades and brigade members by the RFBAQ. Over $6 million in the last 6 years.
https://www.rfbaq.org/previous-grants
--
The RFBAQ is an association that exists to service its membership, which is all Rural Fire Brigades in Queensland.

The objects for which the Association is established are: -
1. To consider and make representation in matters affecting the welfare and efficiency of Rural Fire Brigades and Brigade Members.
2. To provide financial assistance and support to Rural Fire Brigades and their Brigade Members.

Link to RFBAQ constitution - https://www.rfbaq.org/constitution

02/06/2026

Good morning, Brigade Members, University of Queensland is seeking people who would like to partake in a research project.

Please read the below email from UQ.

(posts will be moderated to keep conversations relevant and respectful. - RFBAQ)

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Research interview request: firefighters’ and first responders’ perspectives on Australia’s energy transition.

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Dear Rural Fire Brigades Association Queensland,

I hope this message finds you well.

My colleagues Prof. Belinda Wade, Prof. Matthew Hornsey and I at the University of Queensland are currently conducting research with Net Zero Australia on how trust between stakeholders shapes the delivery of Australia’s energy transition.

As part of this project, we are conducting confidential 45-minute interviews with individuals who have relevant experiences or perspectives on the rollout of renewable energy and transmission projects, including battery and storage projects.

We are particularly interested in speaking with firefighters, first responders, and emergency services personnel who may have insights into how these changes are affecting regional and rural communities, and relationships between developers, governments, and communities.

Interviews are fully confidential and anonymised, and the project has received approval from the University of Queensland ethics committee. The insights gathered will contribute to academic research, a Net Zero Australia report, and practical toolkits aimed at supporting more constructive engagement during Australia’s energy transition.

I am writing to ask whether you may be able to share this invitation with any firefighters, first responders, brigade members, volunteers, or relevant staff who might be interested in participating in a short interview. Participation is entirely voluntary, and interviews can be scheduled at a time convenient to participants.

I have attached a participant information sheet with further details about the project. Please feel free to pass this on to anyone who may be interested. I would also be very grateful for any suggestions about the most appropriate person, team, or local brigade contact to approach.

Thank you kindly for your time and assistance.
Best wishes,
Sarah

Researchers:
Trust in Climate Transitions
Sarah MacInnes (University of Queensland), Belinda Wade (University of
Queensland), Matthew Hornsey (University of Queensland)

Research team contact: Sarah MacInnes at [email protected]

02/06/2026

01/06/2026

FarmFest starts today and runs until Thursday.

Cambooya Rural Fire Brigade is again providing fire protection for the event as they have done for over 30 years now. They are next to the SES stand.

Gary Patzwald, local RFBAQ rep, will be available for a chat at the Cambooya truck. GP’s mobile - 0418700276

Again, a huge thanks to the volunteer brigade members who give up their time each year to provide fire response for the over 2,000 companies and organisations in the one location.

RFSQ has again taken a pass at having an information and recruitment stand at FarmFest.

01/06/2026

The Goomeri Pumpkin Festival was a great success on Sunday.

The Fire & Rescue / Rural Fire Service / SES stand was very popular with both kids and adults.

There was a public interest in the new smoke alarm laws and how to comply. Bushy stickers, magnets, key rings and children’s fire safety information was so popular that as the day went on stocks ran out.

Bushy, Blazer and Paddy were crowd favourites.

Great job, Goomeri F&R, Goomeri and Kilkivan RFB’s and SES

Community fire brigades attending community events.